Today let’s take a look at the monumental opening of one of the most recognizable pieces of internationally acclaimed man-made architecture, the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, France.

On this day in 1889, Gustave Eiffel was finally able to announce the completion of this tower, constructed by his company, Compagnie des Établissements Eiffel, and named for himself, after two years of work.

Eiffel’s company designed and developed this structure with the purpose of accenting the 1889 world’s fair and commemorating the centennial of the French Revolution. However, at the time the plans were presented for the tower’s construction, there were a multitude of objections and disagreements among artists in the area, against the idea of the tower as w
ell as the style of it’s legendary architecture. The critics believed that Eiffel’s plans were too structurally unsound and not fit with the general look of the city. Meanwhile, Eiffel pushed forward with the idea and continued to struggle to gain momentum for his plans. He tried to sway some opinions by comparing his tower to the Egyptian pyramids in terms of size, magnitude, significance, and cultural importance. Eventually, Eiffel received approval for his ambitious plans, and began construction in 1887. For nearly two years, Eiffel’s team of engineers worked tirelessly until the tower’s completion, and the group even completed the job ahead of schedule and significantly under budget.

When Eiffel’s tower was finally finished, Eiffel decided to take a small number of government workers and members of the press to the highest point of the tower, today recognizable as the observation deck. The group had to reach the top level of the tower by climbing stairs that continued throughout the entirety of the its height, 1050 feet, for over an hour. Until the construction of the Chrysler Building in New York City, the Eiffel Tower was actually the tallest man-made structure in the world.

Clearly, after 128 years, this piece of architectural engineering legend has stood the test of time and is still one of the most notable pieces of human history ever created. I find it increasingly incredible as everyday I receive new pieces of knowledge about the world in which we live, that the structures in which we reside have in fact been designed and built by our fellow human beings. Take Old Main, for instance. Every time I walk by that building, I am consumed with such a feeling of awe at the amount of rich history that sleeps between its walls. It’s incredible to imagine that once upon a time, someone thought up the idea to build a structure that fulfilled not only its purpose, but that also looked appealing to the eye, and perhaps unintentionally ended up becoming the very essence of the place itself.

What is Penn State without Old Main? Or Paris without La Tour Eiffel? Our buildings not only offer physical protection, shelter, and functionality, but they also provide us with a story to tell. A dear friend of mine once told me that with anything you’re trying to say to someone, it’s always about the narrative. Buildings, ancient buildings, arguably weave greater narratives than can ever be told or written, or even read. This is because the very soul of history lives within their walls. It floods every room with its wondrous, encapsulating honesty. It paints itself with grace and permanence upon the foundation beams.

Where would we be today if not for the advancements in architecture and the capabilities of engineering or building? This is something I’ve been recognizing more and more as time progresses and I have come to witness a growing number of spectacular architectural designs in a variety of places. The different styles each tell a story of need, plausibility, functionality, and creativity. How interesting to think that one of the most basic human needs, shelter, can serve as arguably one of the most beneficial and inventive outlets for originality and learning to take a chance.

That’s all for now folks!

Quote of the Day:

“An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?”